Direct memory access (DMA) controller utilizing a delayed column address strobe (CAS) signal

• US 5,732,284 A
• Filed: 04/01/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kono, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barry, Lance Leonard
• Application Number:
  US08/626,010
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 395/842, 395/845, 395/846, 395/853
• US Class Current: 710/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4243 with synchronous protocol

Abstract

Address generators output addresses of transfer data of transfer origin and destination DRAM'"'"'s. Updating of the transfer addresses from the address generators during execution of DMA is performed based on a CAS signal from a timing signal generator. A delay element delays the CAS signal by a time which is the sum of an access time of the transfer origin DRAM and a data set-up time of the transfer destination DRAM. A transfer data counter counts the number of leading edges of the CAS signal while a RAS signal from the timing signal generator is held active. When a counted value reaches a preset value, the transfer data counter outputs continuous data transfer suspension information to the timing signal generator. With this arrangement, the halt in operation of a CPU due to continuous occupation of a bus is effectively prevented while achieving the increased data transfer rate.

Claims

1. A DMA controller comprising:

a first memory control section for producing, by a first address generator, a first address signal for a first memory which is a transfer origin and continuously accessible, and for outputting said first address signal to said first memory;

a second memory control section for producing, by a second address generator, a second address signal for a second memory which is a transfer destination and continuously accessible, and for outputting said second address signal to said second memory;

a timing signal generator for producing first and second address strobe signals based on output control signals from said first and second memory control sections, said timing signal generator outputting said first address strobe signal to said first and second memories, respectively, and said second address strobe signal to said first memory;

delay means for delaying said second address strobe signal by a time which is a sum of an access time of said first memory and a data set-up time of said second memory, and for outputting the delayed second address strobe signal to said second memory;

first and second control means, provided in said first and second memory control sections, respectively, for outputting control signals separately to said timing signal generator so as to control generation of said first and second address strobe signals for achieving continuous access of said first and second memories independently of each other; and

a transfer data counter for counting the number of transfer data from said second address strobe signal of said timing signal generator and for outputting transfer suspension information to said timing signal generator when a counted value reaches a preset value,

wherein writing of data, which are outputted by said first memory in synchronism with said second address strobe signal from said timing signal generator, into said second memory in synchronism with said delayed second address strobe signal is repeated and wherein, when at least the number of repeating of said data writing into said second memory reaches said preset value, said first address strobe signal is forcibly set inactive based on said transfer suspension information.

2. The DMA controller according to claim 1, further comprising transfer direction control means for subjecting said first memory to a reading control and said second memory to a writing control, and switching means, based on an output signal from said transfer direction control means, for feeding said second address strobe signal from said timing signal generator to said first memory and for feeding said delayed second address strobe signal from said delay means to said second memory.

3. The DMA controller according to claim 1, each of said first and second control means includes latch means for holding a row address in address signals outputted from corresponding one of said first and second address generators upon transition of said first address strobe signal to an active state at the time of starting the data transfer, and a comparator for comparing an output of said latch means and a row address in the address signals outputted from the corresponding one of said first and second address generators and for outputting a result of the comparison as said control signal to said timing signal generator,

wherein, while said comparison result shows agreement, said timing signal generator controls said second address strobe signal to change alternately between active and inactive states while holding said first address strobe signal to be active.

4. The DMA controller according to claim 1, wherein said transfer data counter counts the number of transitions from active to inactive of said second address strobe signal while said first address strobe signal is held active and compares its counted value with said preset value.

5. The DMA controller according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second memories is a dynamic random access memory which is operable in a page mode, and wherein said first address strobe signal is a row address strobe signal and said second address strobe signal is a column address strobe signal.

6. The DMA controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second memories is a dynamic random access memory which is operable in a static column mode, and wherein said first address strobe signal is a row address strobe signal and said second address strobe signal is a chip select signal.